Health for life

A new study has found that many people who stopped taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs were also taking an average of three other drugs that interfered with the normal metabolism of the statins.

The other drugs can contribute to a common side effect of taking statins - muscle pain – and often led people to discontinue use of a medication that could otherwise help save their life, researchers learned.

The interactions of many drugs with statins have been known of for some time, researchers said, but are not being adequately managed by physicians and pharmacists, who could often choose different medications or adjust dosages to retain the value of statin drugs without causing this side effect.

The research, done as part of a survey of more than 10,000 current and former statin users, found that use of medications which interfere with statin metabolism almost doubles the chance that a person will discontinue statin use due to muscle pain.

The issue is of growing importance because statin drugs are some of the most widely used medications in the world, proven to lower LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, and decrease the risk of heart attacks, heart disease, strokes and death. About 20 million people in the U.S. now take statins, and new guidelines have just been issued to further expand the types of health conditions for which statins may be of benefit. Based on those guidelines, the number of statin users could increase to more than 30 million.

The findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology by scientists from Oregon State University and four other universities or research institutes.

“We’ve known for some time of many medications that can interact with statins, but only now is it becoming clear that this is a significant contributor to the side effects, and often the reason some patients stop taking statins,” said Matt Ito, a professor in the OSU College of Pharmacy and president of the National Lipid Association, which funded this study.

“This issue is something physicians, pharmacists and patients all need to be more aware of,” Ito said. “There’s a lot we can do besides discontinue use of these valuable medications. You can change dosages, use drugs that don’t cause interactions, use different types of statins. Patients need to be proactive in understanding this issue and working with their health care providers to address it.”

Persons who have problems taking statins should discuss options with their physicians or pharmacists, Ito said, and not assume the drug has be to discontinued. A Medscape web site at http://erence.medscape.com/drug-interactionchecker also can help individuals learn more about possible interactions between statins and the full range of medications they may be taking.

Statins are usually well-tolerated, but in the recent survey, a muscle-related side effect was reported by 29 percent of participants. In former statin users, 62 percent of the people said that side effects, mostly muscle pain, were the reason they stopped taking the drugs.

There are many drugs that can interfere with statin metabolism, increase systemic exposure to the statin and raise the risk of this muscle pain, the researchers said in their report. This can include some common antibiotics, cardiovascular drugs, and others taken for treatment of cancer, mental health, HIV treatment and other conditions.

These interactions are not always adequately considered by physicians and pharmacists, however. One recent report found that as many as 20 percent of significant statin-drug interactions were missed in 64 pharmacies.

Besides drug interactions, statin side effects are also more common in women and associated with increasing age, history of cardiovascular disease, and some other conditions. Statin discontinuation has been associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and death.

This autumn, why not get out of the gym and try something new? Exploring the beauty of life around your city. Or try a class that youve always considered but never dared participate in. You can do a variety of excellent low-impact workouts, and yet still get in great shape. Now that bikini season is over, youll be under less pressure to get in "prime condition." Its time to have some fun with your workouts, and take it easy on your joints too!


1. Fusion Classes

Have you ever tried to do dance and Yoga at the same time? Or cardio Pilates? Fusion classes are all the rage, and theyre a fun way to get in shape in a new and unique way. This workout involves two or more different styles of exercise, and combines them in a way that youd never have dreamed of before. Youd be amazed at the crazy combinations people can dream up when theyre trying to come up with new exercise programs--which may be surprisingly fun!

2. Paddleboarding

This is somewhat of a cross between surfing and kayaking, and youll find that its a great workout for your upper body. Stand-up paddleboarding is done using a paddle to propel your board out onto the water. Those on the West Coast will no doubt have heard of this style of boarding, and youll find that theres even crazy combinations like Paddleboard Yoga. What a fun way to get in shape before it gets too cold to swim!

3. Aqua Aerobics

Most people think of Aqua Aerobics as being for senior citizens only, but there are many hardcore water aerobics classes for the younger generation. Imagine trying to run in place while knee deep in water, or trying to do inverted push-ups while half submerged. Its a pretty intense form of exercise/cardio, and yet the water makes it very easy for your joints. These classes tend to be low-impact workouts that get you breathing hard!

4. Swimming

Theres nothing quite like a good swim to take the edge off the late summer/early autumn heat--particularly in the south of the country (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Florida, etc.). Swimming is very low impact--easy on the joints--but its amazing for both your cardio endurance and for your upper body muscles. As long as youre actually swimming and not just splashing around, you can get in amazing shape. The best part: you can swim in a heated indoor pool even throughout the chilly winter.

5. Canoeing or Kayaking

Kayaking and canoeing both involve very little stress placed on your knee and ankle joints, and its pretty easy on your arm and shoulder joints as well. It will work those upper body muscles like nothing else can, and youll find that youre in much better shape after just a few weeks of hard rowing.

6. Inline Skating

Inline skating is a bit hard on your feet and ankles, but its actually quite good for those with tender knees and arms. Youll be amazed by how quickly you can tire out, and youll love the feeling of speeding down the street on those slick inline wheels. Whether you train on the streets or at a track, its a good way to take the pressure off your upper body.

7. Walking/Hiking

If you want the ultimate low impact workout, let Mother Nature be your trainer! Taking a walk/hike out into the forest or mountains near your home will allow you to see the beauty of the autumn wilderness, while easily walking away those calories. A daily walk in the park can help you to prepare for those weekend-long hiking and camping trips youll plan with your family. Its a low-impact exercise that involves a whole lot of fresh air--it doesnt get better than this.
_http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/fitness/7-fun-low-impact-workouts-you-should-try-this-autumn.html

Individuals who have a high preference for sweets and a high aversion to bitter flavors may be at an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome, according to a new study in the Journal of Food Science, published by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT).

Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill analyzed how two tasting profiles, sweet likers (SL) and supertasters (ST), interact and affect dietary intake and health, particularly metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a name for a group of risk factors that occur together and increase the risk for coronary artery disease, stroke, and type-2 diabetes.

What researchers found is that those with both taste profiles or neither taste profiles were more likely to have an increased risk of metabolic syndrome compared to those who were only an SL or ST. The interaction between SL and ST was also significantly associated with fiber and beverage intake suggesting that tasting patterns may have an effect on both dietary intake and disease risk.